Christmas dinner

“Mom, how long will the turkey take to be cooked?”

“About thirty minutes, sweetheart.”

“Marin, how are you doing with the salad?”

“I'm fine, I guess...”

“Ok, I'm finishing the gingerbread cookies and then I'll prepare the table.”

It was 6:00 pm and I was suffering in the kitchen because I wanted everything to be perfect. Today is not just any Christmas dinner: this will be the day I'm going to confess my feelings to Andrea.

“Why so much effort? We will only be 5 people and you have made enough food to feed an entire soccer team.”

My annoying sister never cheers me up, that's why I hate her.

“Leave your brother Marin alone, it is better that there is plenty of food.”

My lovely mother is always supporting me, that's why I love her.

“By the way, I went to the fridge and noticed that there were no sodas or juices. What are you going to serve to drink, Robin?”

Those words gave me a heart attack.

“Damn, I forgot to buy drinks because I was worrying about food. Marin, can you go get them from the store?”

“Can't you see that I'm busy with the salad, genius?”

Hell, I couldn't ask my mom to do it, the drinks were too heavy for her. In the end, I will have to go for them.

“Fine, I'll go out for them. I hope it doesn't take me too long.”

“Don't worry son, there is still a long time for your friends to arrive.”

It's true, I told them to arrive at 8:00 pm, so there was still time to have everything perfect. I needed to shower and get ready for Andrea, but I'll do that after I go for the drinks.

“Ok, then I'm leaving.”

“I hope you get lost.”

“Come back carefully, sweetheart.”

I left the house in the same clothes I was wearing to cook, so the kitchen stains were clearly visible on my shirt and pants. I only wore a hat to hide my messy hair and a scarf because it was very cold.

I didn't go to the little store that was near my house, instead I decided to go to the big supermarket that was a couple of blocks away, because I wanted to find more variety of products.

I quickened my pace, thank God the results of my training with Leonel were more noticeable every day and my physical resistance did nothing but increase.

I got to the supermarket and headed over to where the drinks were. When I arrived, I was overwhelmed by the sheer number of options: Cider, soda, wine, liqueur, juice, punch… I had no idea what Andrea might like; I was in a bind.

“Are you going to buy alcohol, young man? Your mom is going to be very disappointed.”

I can distinguish that annoying voice it from miles away.

“What are you doing here? You're supposed to be at my house at 8:00 pm.”

“I had nothing to do, so I thought I'd come buy Marin a Christmas present.”

“SON OF…”

I wanted to hang him with the scarf he was wearing, but I had to hurry to finish preparing dinner.

“Since you're here, be useful and help me choose a drink for Andrea.”

“How the hell am I supposed to know what your girlfriend likes?”

I was going to correct him right away, but I wouldn't mind starting to get the idea that Andrea could be my girlfriend very soon.

“You're the expert on these things, I've no idea.”

“Just try to remember what she usually drinks.”

Andrea drinks water with her meals, she is a very healthy girl in that regard, but this time that made things difficult for me.

I started putting a ton of drinks in the supermarket cart, only discarding the options that had alcohol.

“Wow, are you seriously going to carry all that? You have enough money?”

“Are you kidding? You are going to help me pay.”

“You're crazy! I won't be able to buy the gift.”

“That's the idea.”

In the end we left the store with a lot of drinks that Leonel kindly helped pay for.

“This is the last time I agree to have dinner with you at Christmas.”

We were walking back to my house carrying two bags each. It was 6:45 pm, so I still had about an hour to have everything perfect for when Andrea arrived.

“So, are you going to do it today?”

“That's right.”

Only Leonel knows that today is the day that I will confess my feelings to Andrea.

“And how are you going to do it?”

“Good question…”

I had no idea. I honestly planned a lot of scenarios in my head, but none of them were good enough to pull it off. Also, it took me a lot of time and effort to organize the whole dinner.

“I'll be honest: I'll tell her that I like her and that's it.”

“Is that really your whole plan?”

“Well, yeah...”

Leonel couldn't contain himself and let out a laugh.

“Come on, make fun of it all you want, anyway, I'm not going to back down.”

“No, no, seriously I wish you well.”

He said that, but he couldn't stop laughing. Worst of all, I couldn't get mad at him, my situation was quite complicated.

We finally got to my house around 7:00 p.m, I still had time to finish the dinner details and then get ready.

At least that's what I thought.

“Welcome home son, your friend Andrea arrived a little early.”

The first thing I saw when I entered the house was Andrea and Marin chatting happily in the living room. I couldn't believe my bad luck.

“Welcome home brother, and… LEO!”

Marin jumped off the couch when she saw him. The silly girl can't hide how much she likes him.

“Hi Marin, hi Andrea! It seems that you also wanted to arrive early.”

Andrea was beautiful as always. She was wearing a gray jacket over her beautiful black dress, which matched her knee-high boots. Of course, to cover her from the cold she wore a scarf and a dark brown beanie hat.

“Hello, I'm sorry, I'm so early.”

“Don't worry… although I'm not the one who should tell you that.”

I was really shocked at how good she looked, so Leonel nudged me with his elbow to get me to say something.

“O-oh yes, don't worry Andrea…”

I wanted to say more things, but I immediately realized that the girl I like and to whom today I am going to confess my feelings is looking at me with my dirty clothes and without bathing.

“SORRY, BUT I HAVE TO GO DO SOMETHING”

I quickly left the bags with the drinks in the kitchen and went up to my room to take a shower. I stopped worrying about the final preparations for dinner, the only thing that mattered to me was looking good for Andrea.

I took the fastest shower of my life and then chose what in my opinion was my best outfit: A black jean jacket, a white polo shirt, black pants and gray shoes. And of course, I combed my hair and sprayed lotion.

It was 7:15 pm when I went down to the living room. Leonel was entertaining Andrea with one of his silly stories, while my mom was in the kitchen helping me with dinner.

“Thanks for helping me mom, let me finish what's left.”

“No, son, go with your friends and let me take care of the rest. You have already done enough.”

I had no words to thank this beautiful woman. I just gave her a kiss on the cheek and went to the living room.

I greeted them again and sat down in the chair in front of them.

“Awesome! You really look great when you take a bath, don't you think, Andrea?”

This time I appreciated Leonel's uncomfortable questions, I really wanted to know what Andrea thought about me.

“You look very good, Robin!”

Even Leo was impressed with how easily she answered that question. I felt a strange mixture of happiness and sadness, I didn't know how to interpret her comment.

“Thank you, Andrea, you also look very good. By the way, where is Marin?”

I decided to change the topic of the conversation so as not to deal with my confused thoughts.

“Just like you, Marin ran to her room and hasn't come down since.”

That brat, she sure is dressing her best for my stupid best friend.

The three of us talked for a while in the living room while my mom finished the last details of dinner.

“Guys, everything is ready!”

The kitchen gave off a very pleasant aroma.

“My sister has already taken a long time.”

Marin still hadn't finished getting ready and was still in her room, so I asked Andrea to please go see her.

“Sure, no problem!”

Andrea went up the stairs and Leonel and I were left alone.

“Are you ready? The most important game of your life is about to begin.”

Leonel was not exaggerating, in all my time as a soccer player I never felt as excited as I do at this moment.

Like almost everything in life, this is going to end in absolute victory or painful failure. I'm aware of that, but I'm no longer afraid… The ball is already in play.

“I'm ready.”